ur forces at Harrisburg
time to finish the fort and other defences, and be in readiness to
receive the enemy should he advance to that point." On the 28th they
arrived back in camp, having satisfactorily and most gallantly
accomplished all they were sent to do. "It was," as General Couch
remarked in a congratulatory order, "one of the most successful
expeditions he had ever seen accomplished, according to the number
engaged in it: viz., advancing fifty-two miles beyond all defences and
support in case of an attack, and holding the enemy in check for a
period of six days."[2]

[2] The following thrilling incident is narrated by Col.
Varian:--"Upon arriving within a mile of Chambersburg, I received
intelligence that our cavalry pickets had been driven in, and the
enemy's cavalry were about entering the town. I halted my
command. *** loaded the muskets, and started for the town.
Marched down the principal street in column by companies *** amid
the enthusiastic plaudits of the whole population,--they looking
upon us as their deliverers, and receiving us with a welcome that
must be seen and felt to be properly appreciated, entertaining
the entire command with such refreshments as could be hastily
procured. *** And amid the general congratulations the Stars and
Stripes were run up the flagstaff amid the wildest enthusiasm."

_Friday, 26th._--Commandants of regiments ordered to have their
commands in immediate readiness to move or attack. Commandant of
artillery in the Fort to see that his guns are in position, and that he
has the requisite amount of ammunition.

Our camp, like every community, had its share of alarmists, who daily
saw or heard of the enemy within five miles, ten miles, fifteen miles
of us; at Carlisle, just beyond Carlisle, or wherever the thermometer
of their fears placed him. Indeed the above orders, so closely
following each other, had a decidedly threatening look. Still the
opinion of those who had most faith in General Hooker, notwithstanding
the tangled rumors of the hour, was that we should not see the enemy
unless we went in pursuit of him; and to this pass we quickly came. It
appears that information had been received at head-quarters, that the
invaders had reached the vicinity of Carlisle, some eighteen miles west
from Harrisburg, our small force having fallen back before them. They
were said to have anywhere between five tho